Fruit harvester

ABSTRACT

A harvesting machine for picking up fruit, such as apples, which has fallen to the ground and placing it in a box or other suitable container. A drive shaft is concentrically disposed within an elongated shield of uniform, substantially semicircular cross section. The shaft carries and imparts rotation to a plurality of blade assemblies arranged in closely spaced relation axially along the shaft, each assembly having a plurality of radially extending blades substantially tangential to the drive shaft. The fruit is picked up by the blades, carried around the shield, and propelled against a resilient curtain to drop onto conveying means without bounce or bruise and be transported to the container. Blower means are provided for separating grass, and the like, from the fruit as it is traveling between the blades and the curtain. Means are also provided for selectively tilting the container to avoid bruising the fruit as it is placed therein.

[ Dec. 11, 1973 FRUIT HARVESTER [76] Inventors: James G. Sharp; David E.Sharp,

both of JI-Meva Farm, North Rose,

NY. I

[22] Filed: Mar. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 235,524

Primary ExaminerRussell R. Kinsey Att0mey-Charles S. McGuire [57]ABSTRACT A harvesting machine for picking up fruit, such as apples,which has fallen to the ground and placing it in a box or other suitablecontainer. A drive shaft is concentrically disposed within an elongatedshield of uniform, substantially semi-circular cross section. The shaftcarries and imparts rotation to a plurality of blade assemblies arrangedin closely spaced relation axially along the shaft, each assembly havinga plurality of radially extending blades substantially tangential to thedrive shaft. The fruit is picked up by the blades, carried around theshield, and propelled against a resilient curtain to drop onto conveyingmeans without bounce or bruise and be transported to the container.Blower means are provided for separating grass, and the like, from thefruit as it is traveling between the blades and the curtain. Means arealso provided for selectively tilting the container to avoid bruisingthe fruit as it is placed therein.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures [52] U.S. Cl. 56/328 [51] Int. Cl .,A0lg19/00 [58] Field of Search 56/328, 28, 364; 214/353-356; 15/2 R, 78, 82,83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,049,129 8/1962 Mark et al.130/26 2,037,624 4/1936 Franklin 56/330 2,355,273 8/1944 Case 56/3302,508,401 5/1950 Kirk 56/130 3,621,643 11/1971 Gerrans 56/329 3,475,88911/1969 Overstreet.. 56/328 R 3,530,655 9/1970 Whitney 56/328 R3,591,948 7/1971 Brumbaugh et a1... 56/328 R 3,295,302 1/1967 Lee 56/3643,595,363 7/1971 Vinyard 56/364 X 3,657,869 4/1972 Ayranto 56/294FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,430,313 l/1966 France 56/328 R l l t1;; 1 L-l I 20 1M. 1'" w .11 M H l w- M x xj\, &

FRUIT HARVESTER This invention relates to fruit harvesting machineryand, more particularly, to apparatus for picking up fruit which hasfallen to the ground and placing it in a container as the machine ismoved over the ground.

The prior art includes various forms of apparatus for picking up fallenfruit, amont which are machines for lifting the fruit with blades orpaddles and carrying it to conveyor means which discharges into anappropriate container. It is common, however, for such apparatus tobecome clogged with grass, or other foreign material, as it is movedover the ground to pick up the fruit. Another common disadvantage ofconventional harvesting apparatus of this type is that the fruit may bebruised or crushed as it is picked up, or transported through theapparatus, or discharged into the container.

In a general sense, the object of the present invention is to providenovel and improved harvesting apparatus which will pick up fruit fromthe ground and place it in a container in an efficient manner withoutdamaging the fruit.

A further object is to provide a fruit harvesting machine having aplurality of blades rotatable close to the ground to pick up fruit andwhich does not easily become clogged with grass, or other such foreignmaterial, picked up in the course of harvesting the fruit.

Still another object is to provide fruit harvesting apparatus havingconveying means discharging into a container and having means forpreventing damage to the fruit which would otherwise occur due todropping it from the conveying means into the container.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear morefully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understoodthat the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and arenot designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partly in section on theline 11 of FIG. 2, of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, in section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,of a portion of the apparatus, showing certain items in differentpositions of relative movement;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, as seen from the line 44 of FIG. 5, of one of theblade assemblies;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the blade assembly;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an individual blade;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the blade; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of FIG. 6.

The apparatus of the invention is preferably moved by a separatelypowered vehicle, normally a tractor, as with other agriculturalimplements of a similar nature. l-Iydraulic'motors used to drive variouselements of the apparatus may be powered from the power take-off unitcommonly provided on tractors, and the like. In FIG. 1 is shown afragment of a wheel 10 and drawbar 12 of a tractor used to move theharvester apparatus, the operative connection between the tractor andharvester being entirely conventional.

The overall construction and operation of the invention can best be seenby reference to FIGS. 1-3. The

apparatus is disclosed as a harvesting machine for apples but, ofcourse, may be used for picking up other fruits or vegetables which arelying on the ground. The reference numeral 14 is used to denotegenerally the structural members used to provide a rigid frame for theapparatus, which is mounted on wheels 16. The fruit is picked up fromthe ground by rotating blade assemblies 18, carried around theelongated, semicircular shield 20, dropped on horizontally disposedconveyor 22, carried to inclined conveyor 24 and discharged into box 26.Blade assemblies 18, as seen in FIG. 2, are mounted in closely spacedrelationship, so that nofruit can fall between the blades of adjacentassemblies. The blade assemblies, a more detailed description of whichwill be given later, are affixed to tubular member 28 which isconcentrically mounted and fixedly attached with respect to centraldrive shaft 30 (FIG. 1). Hydraulic motor 32 (FIG. 2)is connected byappropriate fluid-carrying lines to hydraulic manifold 34 and impartsrotation to drive shaft 30, and thereby to blade assemblies 18.

Shield 20 extends around a portion of the periphery of the path followedby the ends of the blade assemblies. The front of the shield is open andthe sides closed by appropriately shaped and secured end plates. Shield20 is mounted on frame 14 by parallelogram linkages at each end, such asthat indicated in FIG. I by reference numeral 36. The linkage has fixedpivots on the frame and movable pivots on the shield end plates.

Cable 38 is attached to the upper link of linkage 36 and passes aroundpulleys land 42, as is a similar cable at the opposite end. The cablesmay be drawn up to raise the linkages, and thereby shield 20, from thepositions shown in solid or hidden lines to those shown in dot-dashlines in FIG. 1. Drive shaft 30 is joumalled in the end plates of shield20, and motor 32 is fixedly mounted with respect to one end plate,whereby the blade assemblies and motor are moved along with the shield.These elements are secured in the upper, or inoperative position whenthe apparatus is being transported from one place to another and notbeing used to pick up fruit. At such times, of course, the hydraulicpower units are shut off so that the operative parts may remainstationary. One or more skids, such as that indicated by referencenumeral 44, are attached to the lower edge of shield 20 at each end orat other appropriate intervals, so that the bottom of the shield willfollow the ground contour closely. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that,while the laterally extending portion of the shield has beencharacterized as semi-circular in cross section, horizontal portion 45extends forwardly, tangent to the upper edge of the semi-circularportion and integral therewith. This provides sufficient support areason the end plates for drive shaft 30 and insures that fruit will bepropelled at or below the horizontal. Cables 38 are attached to springs47 (FIG. 2) which are secured to a portion of the frame to absorb amajor portion of the weight of shield 20, thereby reducing the groundload and allowing the shield to travel more easily. Chain 49 (FIG. 1) isprovided as a retaining means for holding the shield in the upperposition by inserting a link through an appropriate retainer affixed tothe frame.

As previously mentioned, the space between the end of the blades and theinner surface of shield 20 is small, substantially less than the typicalcross sectional dimension of the fruit to be harvested by the apparatus.Thus, as the tip of the blades pass the lowest point of their rotation,any fruit in their path will be engaged by the blade ends and pushedinto shield 20. The blade assemblies rotate in a clockwise direction asseen in FIG. 1, whereby the blade ends are moving rearwardly at thelowest point and forwardly at the highest point of their travel withrespect to the direction of movement of the apparatus.

Fruit picked up by the blades may travel somewhat up the blade towardthe center of the blade assembly, but the speed of rotation is such thatcentrifugal force tend to keep the fruit at or near the blade ends. Thefruit cannot fall off the blade end while inside shield 20 due to theclose spacing of the blade ends and shield. As the blades pass the topof their travel the fruit will be propelled forwardly thereby. The speedof blade rotation is preferably so related to the forward speed of theapparatus that there is relative rearward motion of the blade ends withrespect to the ground as the blades pass their lowest point of travel.That is, the velocity of the blade ends is slightly greater than theforward velocity of the apparatus.

The fruit travels forwardly after leaving the blades until it eitherdrops on horizontal conveyor 22 or strikes resilient curtain 46,preferably of canvas or other heavy fabric, which is suspended freelyfrom spacer 48. The fruit may strike curtain 46 at a quite high velocitywithout damage to the fruit due to the curtains resiliency. Conveyor 22is not described in detail, being conventional in nature and powered byhydraulic motor 50. A belt, chain, or other conventional support may beused as the endless conveyor means, with the usual drive and idlerrolls, and any other required support means.

Blower 52 is supported on rod 54, which extends between upstandingportions of frame 14, near the discharge end of conveyor 22. The blowerconstruction is conventional, containing appropriate rotary fan bladeswhich discharge an air stream through opening 56. The fan blades arepowered by hydraulic motor 58. The lateral position of blower 52 may beadjusted along rod 54 as desired. The positioning of the blower adjacentthe end of the row of blade assemblies directs the air stream down thepath of the discharge of the blades, thereby carrying 'awaygrass,leaves, twigs and other light foreign matter which is picked up alongwith the fruit.

Conveyor 24 includes a lower horizontal portion, a central inclinedportion, and an upper horizontal portion, as best seen in FIG. 3. Thelower horizontal portion is disposed below the discharge end of conveyor22, whereby the fruit is transferred from one conveyor to the other. Thefruit is then elevated by the inclined portion of conveyor 24, beingretained thereon by lugs 60. The directional changes of conveyor 24 areeffected by fixed guide plates 62 at the edges of the conveyor belt,outside lugs 60. Conveyor 24 is powered by hydraulic motor 64, connectedby chain 66 to drive roll 68.

The fruit is discharged off the upper end of conveyor 24 into box 26.The box is supported on platform 70 which in turn is supported on eachside between a pair of links, one of which is seen in FIG. 3 denoted byreference numeral 72. The links are pivotally connected to frame 14 attheir other ends. Hydraulic actuator 74 is connected at its extensibleend to a central portion of link 72 and pivoted at its fixed end toframe 14.

When actuator 74 is extended, platform 70 and box 26 are pivoted aboutthe upper end of link 72 to the positions shown in dot-dash lines inFIG. 3. The linkages and supports are shown somewhat diagrammaticallyfor clarity and brevity, but any other required structure could easilybe added to achieve the indicated movement. When box 26 is empty,actuator 74 is extended and the mhchanism is placed in the dot-dash lineposition so that box 26 is tilted under the discharge end of conveyor24. Thus, the fruit has only a short distance to fall and is not crushedor bruised as it would be falling into an empty container in the lowerposition. As the container fills, it is gradually lowered by retractionof actuator 74. The lowering may be accomplished by fixed timing of theretraction of the actuator, by retracting in accordance with forwardspeed of the apparatus, or in accordance with the amount of fruit in thebox by means of weight sensitive apparatus (not shown) attached to thelinkage or actuator.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-8, the structure of the blade assemblies andindividual blades is shown in greater detail. As previously stated,drive shaft 30 is fixedly connected by any convenient means (not shown)to tubular member 28. Welded, or otherwise affixed to the outer surfaceof member 28 are rigid, elongated, metal strips 76. In the illustratedembodiment, six such strips are provided, at uniform intervals aroundthe tubular member, and extend substantially tangentially along theentire length thereof. Strips 76 serve as supports for individual blades78 which are attached to each strip by rivets 80. Since blades 78 areattached to the side of strip 76 toward the center of member 28, thethickness of the blades and strips is such that the plane of the forwardside of the blades is substantially tangent to drive shaft 30. Thediameter of shaft 30 is preferably approximately equal to that of thetypical fruit to be harvested by the apparatus, and the shaft is mountedon the axis of the semi-circle of the cross section of shield 20. Thisprovides optimum performance since tips 82 of blades 78 will be closestto the ground when there is a space approximately equal to the thicknessof one apple between the tip of the blade and the lower forward edge ofshield 20. Although the blades may be mounted on the rearward sides ofthe strips, as shown in FIG. 1, with satisfactory operation, the FIG. 5arrangement is preferred since greater support on the inner ends of theblades is provided by mounting them on the forward sides of the supportstrips.

Blades 78 are made of a somewhat flexible material, such as polyurethaneplastic. A preferred example of the blade material is that supplied byI-Iysol Division of Dexter Corporation, Olean, New York, and designatedby the manufacturer as Urethane Casting System Spc. TM-32. The bladesare thickest at base portion 84, where the rivets are placed, andinclude flat surface 86 which faces in the direction of rotation of theblades, and therefore is the surface which engages the fruit. The majorportion of the length of blades 78 is between square tip 82 and baseportion 84, and comprises body portion 88 of substantially uniform crosssection along its length from the base portion to the tip, and centralrib 90. The thickness of body portion 88 is much less, e.g., less thanone-half, that of base portion 84, and rib 90 gradually decreases from acombined thickness with the body portion equal to that of the baseportion, to blend with body portion 88 somewhat short of tip 82.

The flexibility of blades 78, with the greatest amount of flexibilitybeing in the region of the tip, provides distinct advantages inoperation by reducing the tendency of the apparatus to become clogged ordamaged from picking up foreign objects or materials. Although a limitedamount of flexibility is provided by the construction and material ofthe blades, they are still stiff enough, of course, to pick up andpropel the fruit in the manner indicated. The provision of blower 52 inthe indicated arrangement also enhances operation by separating lightforeign matter as the fruit is deposited on the first conveyor. Thefruit is handled automatically and efficiently, yet in a manner whichinsures that minimal crushing or bruising will occur. The constructionand arrangement of the various portions of the apparatus cooperate toprovide efficient and reliable, yet simple and economical fruitharvesting apparatus.

While several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invnetion, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to theappended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Harvesting apparatus for picking up and collecting fruit lying on theground, said apparatus comprising,

a. frame means supported on wheels for movement over the ground in aforward direction to pick up fruit;

b. an elongated shield extending transversely of said forward direction,having a substantially semicircular cross section and supported by saidframe means with one edge in close proximity to the ground and the openside disposed in said forward direction;

c. a rotatable support member extending longitudinally and centrally ofsaid shield;

d. a plurality of rotary blade assemblies connected to said supportmember and extending from an anchored end to a free tip portion whichpasses in close proximity to the ground at the lower end of bladerotation to engage fruit thereon;

e. means for rotating said support member, and thereby said blades, in adirection such that said tip portions are moving rearwardly when at thepoint of closest proximity to the ground; and

f. conveyor means extending transversely of said forward direction andsupported by said frame means forwardly of said shield to receive fruitpropelled in said forward direction by said blade assemblies at theuppermost point in the travel of said tip portions.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and further including a curtain offlexible material arranged substan tially vertically to extend upwardlyfrom said conveyor along the forward side thereof, whereby fruitpropelled forwardly by said blades which would otherwise pass over saidconveyor strikes said curtain and falls onto the conveyor.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said flexible material isa woven fabric.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotatingsaid support member is so related to the speed of movement of said framemeans over the ground that the speed of said tip portions is greaterthan the forward speed of said frame means.

5. A pick-up head for incorporation in harvesting apparatus for'pickingup fruit and like crops, lying on the ground comprising:

a. an elongated, tubular member;

b. means for imparting rotation to said tubular member about its axis;

c. a plurality of flexible blades having a fruit contacting surface, theplane of which forms a chord with respect to said tubular memberparallel to and substantially spaced from a chord through the centerthereof and trailing said central chord with respect to the direction ofrotation of said tubular member.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said blades extend fromsaid tubular member with said fruit contacting surfaces in a pluralityof planes spaced at even angular intervals about the axis thereof.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and further including a pluralityof blade supports extending rigidly from, and substantially tangent to,the outer surface of said tubular member.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said blades are affixed tosaid blade supports with the surface of said blades opposite said fruitcontacting surface in engagement with said supports.

1. Harvesting apparatus for picking up and collecting fruit lying on theground, said apparatus comprising, a. frame means supported on wheelsfor movement over the ground in a forward direction to pick up fruit; b.an elongated shield extending transversely of said forward direction,having a substantially semi-circular cross section and supported by saidframe means with one edge in close proximity to the ground and the openside disposed in said forward direction; c. a rotatable support memberextending longitudinally and centrally of said shield; d. a plurality ofrotary blade assemblies connected to said support member and extendingfrom an anchored end to a free tip portion which passes in closeproximity to the ground at the lower end of blade rotation to engagefruit thereon; e. means for rotating said support member, and therebysaid blades, in a direction such that said tip portions are movingrearwardly when at the point of closest proximity to the ground; and f.conveyor means extending transversely of said forward direction andsupported by said frame means forwardly of said shield to receive fruitpropelled in said forward direction by said blade assemblies at theuppermost point in the travel of said tip portions.
 2. The inventionaccording to claim 1 and further including a curtain of flexiblematerial arranged substantially vertically to extend upwardly from saidconveyor along the forward side thereof, whereby fruit propelledforwardly by said blades which would otherwise pass over said conveyorstrikes said curtain and falls onto the conveyor.
 3. The inventionaccording to claim 2 wherein said flexible material is a woven fabric.4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotatingsaid support member is so related to the speed of movement of said framemeans over the ground that the speed of said tip portions is greaterthan the forward speed of said frame means.
 5. A pick-up head forincorporation in harvesting apparatus for picking up fruit and likecrops, lying on the ground comprising: a. an elongated, tubular member;b. means for imparting rotation to said tubular member about its axis;c. a plurality of flexible blades having a fruit contacting surface, theplane of which forms a chord with respect to said tubular memberparallel to and substantially spaced from a chord through the centerthereof and trailing said central chord with respect to the direction ofrotation of said tubular member.
 6. The invention according to claim 5wherein said blades extend from said tubular member with said fruitcontacting surfaces in a plurality of planes spaced at even angularintervals about the axis thereof.
 7. The invention according to claim 6and further including a plurality of blade supports extending rigidlyfrom, and substantially tangent to, the outer surface of said tubUlarmember.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said blades areaffixed to said blade supports with the surface of said blades oppositesaid fruit contacting surface in engagement with said supports.